Fluid storage and discharge apparatus



Nov. 24, 1964 R. T. CORNELIUS 3,158,296

FLUID STORAGE AND DISCHARGE APPARATUS Filed March 8, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet l and 7%5 Nov. 24, 1964 R. T. CORNELIUS 3,158,296

FLUID STORAGE AND DISCHARGE APPARATUS Fi1ed March 8. 1962 2 sheets-sheet 2 United States Patent O 3,158,296 FLUID STGRAGE AND DISCHARGE APIARATUS Richard T. Cornelius, Minneapolis, Minn., assigner to The Corneiius Ccmpany, Anoka, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Filed Mar. S, 1%2, Ser. No. 178,501 9 (Ci. Z22-386.5)

This invention relates generally to fluid storage and discharge apparatus, and more particularly to an improved tank structure.

Although the principles of the present invention may be included in various tanks, a particularly useful application is made in a tank which is adapted to discharge its own contents. This result is obtained by the inclusion of means which divide the tank into two separate chambers, one of which contains the fluid to be dispensed, and the other of which is provided with a condensible gas. Upon the expansion of such gas, which is liqueed at the discharge pressure, the gas cools and must absorb heat from outside the chamber to reestablish the pressure.

In the structure shown in my Patent No. 2,513,455, the gas chamber is dened by a member which is so constructed that it must stretch in order to drive out or discharge substantially all of the stored fluid. It will be appreciated that many different types of fluid having various chemical properties can be stored and discharged by this apparatus, and that various condensible gases may be employed. However, not all materials are compatible with both the condensible gas and with the iluid, and since my prior structure required a diaphragm or member having elastic properties, the number of materials available for use in fabricating the movable member was quite restricted and limited.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved tank structure wherein the movable member may be constructed of material which is flexible, but which is not necessarily stretchable or elastic, thereby making available a considerably greater number of materials from which the structure may be fabricated.

The structure shown in my prior patent is particularly well adapted to be employed with such a gas and at such a temperature that a relatively high internal pressure is created. Such a rigid tank requires considerable labor to manufacture including expensive machining operations. Moreover, diiculty is sometimes encountered in assembling the movable member `to the rigid parts in a gas-tight manner.

Accordingly, it is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved tank structure, the manufacture of which is inherently simplied and facilitated.

In a tank structure of the type described, there is a tendency lfor pockets to form between the flexible bag or diaphragm and the interior of the tank, within which pockets there would be entrapped a quantity of the iluid which is thus precluded from being discharged.

Accordingly, it is a still further object of the present invention to provide structure which acts to avoid actual entrapment of a uid in any pocket.

Many other advantages, features and additional objects of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

On the drawings:

FIGURE l is an elevational view of a tank structure constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of FIGURE 1, the movable member or diaphragm being broken away and illustrated partially in cross-section and partially in elevation;

FIGURE 3 is a view corresponding to the lower portion of FIGURE 2, with thicknesses represented by a single line and other details omitted for convenience, and which illustrates the cleaning, filling, and lled form of the device;

FIGURE 4 is similar to FIGURE 3 showing the upper portion of FIGURE 2, and representing the form of the device in an empty condition;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional detail of a portion of FIGURE 2, illustrating the position of the parts` depicted as assembled;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary portion of FIGURE 5 illustrating the natural cross-sectional conguration of the portion depicted;

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG- URE 5, illustrating the position of the material depicted when the movable member is positioned as shown in FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of FIGURE 2, and both greatly enlarged `and broken away.

As shown on the drawings:

The principles of this invention are particularly useful when embodied in a fluid discharge apparatus or storage and discharge tank such as illustrated in FIG- URE 1, generally indicated by the numeral lil. The lluid discharge apparatus 1t) includes a rigid tank 11 having appropriate feet 12, 13 at the opposite ends thereof for supporting the same with either end uppermost. Preferably the feet 12 and 13 are resilient and are directly bonded to the tank 11. As best seen in FIGURE 2, the rigid tank 1i comprises a pair of cup-shaped tank end portions 14, 15, one of which portions 14 has a fluid port 16 at one end of the tank, and the other of which end portions 15 has a gas port 17 at the opposite end of the tank. Each of the ports 16 and 17 is preferably provided with a valve I8, 19 respectively which communicates the interior `of the ends of the tank 11 with the outside in a selective manner. The details of the valves 18 and 19 are conventional and form no part of this invention. As will be brought out more fully later herein, it is possible to Ibuild this device and to charge it with gas even though the port 17 and valve 19 were omitted. These elements are therefore optional and preferable.

The tank end portion 15 has a straight cylindrical sec- -tion 15a which merges into a smooth concave portion 15b which jointly comprise an internal contour or configuration of the tank end portion I5. In like manner, the tank end portion 14 is provided with a similar internal contour or conguration. To that end, the tank end portion 14 includes a cylindrical section 14a which merges into a concave section or portion Mb which is apertured with a rather large oval-shaped opening 29. Within the opening `2G there is provided a rigid cover 21 having an oval O-ring 22 forming a seal between such cover 21 and a shoulder 23 provided in the `opening 26 of the tank end 14. The internal contour of the rigid cover 21 comprises an extension of the con-tour of the tank end 14h so that the internal configuration of that end of the tank is generally or substantially the same as that of the opposite end. Where a boss 24 is provided to strengthen the support for the valve 18, it is preferable to include a slot or hole 25 to enable complete drainage of fluid. The rigid cover 21 is held in place by a manually actuated spring lever 26 which is rockably supported as at 27, 27 on the cover 2l and has end portions 28 which engage the outer surface of the tank. The cover Patented Nov. 24, 1964- any volatile materials which may remain within the rubber itself will not bleed through and give off a further odor. Such cleaning is advantageously carried out by applying a negative pressure or vacuum to the valve 19 to deflect the diaphragm 34 to the position shown in FIGURE 3, atmospheric pressure being on the opposite side of the diaphragm during such cleaning. When the cleaning has been completed, the uid to be stored or dispensed may be added under atmospheric pressure y to the chamber 35 through the opening 2t), it being preferable to add such fluid by weight rather than by volume. Thereafter, the gas charge may be applied to the chamber 36, such charge being in the form of a liquid which lls the cup-shaped chamber 36 as insured by the ribs 42.

As explained in my prior patent, various gases may be employed depending upon the pressure desired and the discharge temperature which will most likely be employed. Examples include propane, sulphur dioxide, methyl chloride, butane, and dichloromonoliuoromethane. At any event, when a desired discharge pressure `has been determined, a gas having a corresponding condensation pressure at the discharge temperature chosen is selected.

With this invention, a substantially constant pressure is at all times maintained on the uid to be discharged without the need for employing a pressure regulator or auxiliary source of gas. The gas may be reused and is not wasted, even if the valve 13 be left open. The instant structure will drain substantially completely even when the valve 18 is disposed upwardly, such drainage being complete if the valve 18 be disposed in a downwardly oriented attitude.

A further advantage of the instant invention is that it may be constructed in various sizes over a rather wide range. The instant embodiment disclosed herein is actually about nine and one-half inches in diameter and has a volume of about 576 uid ounces in the chamber 35. The cup-shaped tank end portions 14 and 15 may cornprise stainless steel having a thickness of 0.25 inch. A typical charge of condensible gas will be about 5 fluid ounces in the liquid form. Nevertheless, such a small charge will serve to drive the diaphragm from the position shown in FIGURE 3 to the position shown in FIG- URE 4 while maintaining a constant discharge pressure, the absolute temperature of the gas charge remaining constant.

Although various minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art, it should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such embodiments as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. Fluid discharge apparatus for discharging a fluid comprising:

(a) a rigid tank having a fluid port at one end to receive and to discharge the fluid, and having a pressurizing port at the opposite end, said tank ends each having an internal contour; and

(b) a molded reversible flexible diaphragm secured at its periphery to said tank along the length thereof, and having a central portion engageable at one side thereof with the internal contour of one of said tank ends, said one diaphragm side including a series of elongated ribs directly engageable with the internal contour of said one tank end and extending generally axially of said tank and converging near the port in said one tank end, and each operative to space the adjacent non-ribbed portion of the diaphragm from the interior surface of the tank to vent to such port any entrapped pocket which may tend to form.

2. Fluid discharge apparatus for discharging a liuid comprising:

(a) a rigid tank having a fluid port at a first end to receive and to discharge the lluid, and having a pressurizing port at the opposite end, said tank ends each having an internal contour; and

(b) a molded reversible flexible diaphragm secured at its periphery to said tank along the length thereof, and having a central portion alternatively engageable at opposite sides thereof with the internal contours of said tank ends, each of said diaphragm sides including a series of elongated ribs respectively directly engageable with the internal contours of said tank ends and each series extending generally axially of said tank and converging near the port in the adjacent tank end, and each series being operative to space the adjacent non-ribbed portion of the diaphragm from the interior surface of the tank and to vent to such port any entrapped pocket which may tend to form.

3. Fluid discharge apparatus for discharging a iiuid comprising:

(a) a rigid tank having ports at opposite ends;

(b) a rigid cylindrical ring spotwelded to the interior of said tank, and having a bead at one axial end projecting in an axial direction therefrom and disposed in radially inwardly offset relation to the spotwelded portion of the ring and in radially inwardly spaced relation to the interior of the tank; and

(c) a molded flexible diaphragm dividing said tank into two separate chambers, and having an integral bead received between said ring bead and the interior surface of said tank, said diaphragm also having an integral peripheral tapered lip adjacent to said bead and disposed within one of said chambers, said lip forming a seal with the interior chamberdefining surface of said tank.

4. Fluid discharge apparatus for discharging a fluid comprising:

(a) a rigid tank jointly defined by a pair of cupshaped tank end portions directly abutting each other at their mouths, each of said end portions having a Port;

(b) a separate rigid cylindrical ring within said tank directly engaging both of said abutting mouths, and having a bead at one axial end projecting in an axial direction therefrom disposed in radially inwardly offset relation to said ring and in radially inwardly spaced relation to the interior surface of said tank;

(c) a spotweld seam spanning the mouths of said end portions along the line of abutment and forming a fluid seal directly between both of said mouths and said ring; and

(d) a molded flexible diaphragm dividing said tank into two separate chambers, and having an integral bead received between said ring bead and the interior surface of said tank7 said diaphragm also having an integral peripheral tapered lip adjacent to said bead and disposed within one of said chambers, said lip forming a seal with the interior chamberdening surface of said tank.

5. Fluid discharge apparatus for discharging a iluid comprismg:

(a) a rigid tank having a fluid port at a first end to receive and to discharge the fiuid, and having a pressurizing port at the opposite end, each of said tank ends having a substantially identical internal contour; and

(b) a molded exible diaphragm having a periphery secured to the interior of said tank, said diaphragm having a reversible central portion with an as-molded configuration which is substantially the same as said internal contour, and which is pressurizable into engagement at opposite sides thereof with substantially t! the entire internal contour at each of said tank ends, each of said diaphragm sides including a series of elongated ribs respectively directly engageable with the internal contours of said tank ends and each tank into two chambers, at least one side of said central portion being engageable with one of said internal contours, said one side including a series of elongated ribs directly engageable with said one of S with said internal contours, each of said sides including a series of elongated ribs respectively directly engageable with said internal contours and each series extending generally axially of said tank and series extending generally axially of said tank and converging toward said fluid receiving and discharge converging near the port in the adjacent tank end, and means, and each series being operative to space the each series being operative to space the adjacent nonadjacent non-ribbed portion of the diaphragm from ribbed portion of the diaphragm from the interior the interior surface of the tank and to vent any ensurface of the tank and to vent to such port any entrapped pocket which may tend to form; and trapped pocket which may tend to form. (d) means kfor pressurizing the chamber adjacent to 6. Fluid discharge apparatus for discharging a 'Huid said opposite end. comprising: 8. Fluid discharge apparatus for discharging a lluid (a) a rigid tank including an internal contour at one comprising:

end having means adapted to receive and discharge (a) a rigid tank jointly defined by a pair of cup-shaped the fluid, and including a substantially identical intank end portions directly abutting each other at ternal contour at the opposite end; their mouths, each of said end portions having a port; (b) means welded to the interior of said tank and de- (b) a separate cylindrical ring within said tank diiining a rigid bead disposed in radially inwardly rectly engaging both of said end portionsalong said spaced relation to the interior oi the tank; abutting mouths, and having an edge at one axial (c) a molded flexible diaphragm having an integral end projecting in an axial direction therefrom disperipheral bead received between said rigid bead posed in radially inwardly spaced relation to the and the interior surface of said tank, said diaphragm interior surface of said tank; having a reversible central portion with an as-molded (c) a welded seam spanning the mouths of said end configuration which is substantially the same as said portions along the line of abutment and forming a internal contour, and dividing the interior of said uid seal directly between both of said mouths and said ring; and

(d) a molded llexible diaphragm dividing said tank into two separate chambers, and having an integral edge portion received between said ring edge and the interior surface of said tank.

9. Fluid discharge apparatus for discharging a fluid comprising:

(a) a rigid tank having ports at opposite ends;

(b) a rigid cylindrical ring welded to the interior surface of said tank, and having an edge at one axial end projecting in an axial direction therefrom and disposed in radially inwardly oflset relation to the Welded portion of the ring and in radially inwardly said internal contours and extending generally axially of said tank and converging toward said iuid receiving and discharging means, and each operative to space the adjacent non-ribbed portion of the diaphragm from the interior surface of the tank to vent any entrapped pocket which may tend to form; and (d) means for pressurizing the chamber adjacent to said opposite end. 7. Fluid discharge apparatus for discharging a uid comprising:

(a) a rigid tank including an internal contour at one 40 and end having means adapted to receive and discharge (c) a molded flexible diaphragm dividing said tank the tluid, and including a substantially identical ininto .two separate chambers, and having an .integral ternal contour at the opposite end; edge portion received between said ring edge and the (b) means welded to the interior of said tank and interior surface of said tank.

dening a rigid bead disposed in radially inwardly spaced relation to the interi-or of the tank; (c) a molded flexible diaphragm having an integral peripheral bead received between said rigid bead References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS and the interior surface of said tank and having a 'iiogiungu "I/my 23 tapered lip resiliently acting against said interior 50 2513455 Clpm gvl' A4 1950 surface and forming a seal therewith, and said dia- 2893433 Ome ms "u y hr h vi 1 'bl ltral orti with an Macpu July 7 1959 P agm :a ne a fevifs e FC P on. 2 n32 321 Mercier Apr 12 1960 as-moldeo conliguration which 1s substanhally the 3618970 W. b ""E-l I 3G 1962 same as said internal contour, and dividing the inl en erg e a' ""1"" an' terior of said tank into two chambers within one of FOREIGN PATENTS which said tapered lip is disposed, opposite sides 802,702 Great Britain Oct. gl 1958 of said central portion being alternatively engageable spaced relation to the interior surface of the tank;- 

1. FLUID DISCHARGE APPARATUS FOR DISCHARGING A FLUID COMPRISING: (A) A RIGID TANK HAVING A FLUID PORT AT ONE END TO RECEIVE AND TO DISCHARGE THE FLUID, AND HAVING A PRESSURIZING PORT AT THE OPPOSITE END, SAID TANK ENDS EACH HAVING AN INTERNAL CONTOUR; AND (B) A MOLDED REVERSIBLE FLEXIBLE DIAPHRAGM SECURED AT ITS PERIPHERY TO SAID TANK ALONG THE LENGTH THEREOF, AND HAVING A CENTRAL PORTION ENGAGEABLE AT ONE SIDE THEREOF WITH THE INTERNAL CONTOUR OF ONE OF SAID TANK ENDS, SAID ONE DIAPHRAGM SIDE INCLUDING A SERIES OF ELONGATED RIBS DIRECTLY ENGAGEABLE WITH THE INTERNAL CONTOUR OF SAID ONE TANK END AND EXTENDING GENERALLY AXIALLY OF SAID TANK AND CONVERGING NEAR THE PORT IN SAID ONE TANK END, AND EACH OPERATIVE TO SPACE THE ADJACENT NON-RIBBED PORTION OF THE DIAPHRAGM FROM THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF THE TANK TO VENT TO SUCH PORT ANY ENTRAPPED POCKET WHICH MAY TEND TO FORM. 